The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series, and if you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.
After failing to sweep the Rockets in Game 4, the Lakers will return home to Crypto.com Arena and have another shot at sending Alperen Sengun and crew to an early summer vacation. Kevin Durant will miss his third straight game with a left ankle sprain, while Austin Reaves, who has been out for nearly four weeks with an oblique strain, will make another attempt to be ready to return to game action.
If the Lakers finish off the Rockets, either in Game 5 or later on, they will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. The Thunder swept the Phoenix Suns on Monday to advance to the second round, and overall, they have won 23 of their last 26 games dating back to late February.
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
Lakers vs Rockets injury reports
Rockets: Steven Adams (left ankle surgery), Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) and Fred VanVleet (right knee ACL repair) are out.
Lakers: Austin Reaves (left oblique muscle strain) is questionable. Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) is out.
Advice and Prediction:
The Lakers should be a little more motivated and have a greater sense of urgency to end this series in Game 5 than they did in Game 4. They will also have the positive energy of their home fans on their side, which always helps.
LeBron James had one of his worst performances in some time with 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting and eight turnovers. With 72 hours of rest between Game 4 and Game 5, he should be energetic enough to have the type of performance people have come to expect from him, especially in close-out games during the playoffs. The Lakers will also need more offense from guards Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, both of whom shot 3-of-8 from the field in Game 4 on Sunday.
With Durant out, will the Rockets be able to generate enough offense? If Los Angeles limits its turnovers, and especially if it doesn’t get outrebounded, probably not. But forcing turnovers and winning the battle of the boards has kept the Rockets in this series — barely. Through four games, the Rockets have forced a total of 80 turnovers and outrebounded L.A. by 16.
There are reasons to believe that the Rockets will stave off elimination again, especially after the way they performed in Game 4. But there are even more reasons to believe that the Purple and Gold will end this series right her and right now.
Prediction: Lakers 109, Rockets 104
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Prediction and betting odds for Lakers vs. Rockets Game 5
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
